Cutting device for propeller driven watercraft

ABSTRACT

A system for cutting marine grasses, weeds and other plant life to protect a propeller drive watercraft is disclosed. An adjustable, protective cutting edge to protect a propeller, drive shaft of a boat or other watercraft motor is further disclosed. An adjustable cutting device to mount upon base having openings or windows is further disclosed for optimizing the navigation of watercraft and reducing in-piloting maintenance of clearing plant matter from propeller driven motor assembly.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from US Provisional Application No. 62/573,585 filed on Oct. 17, 2017 and entitled “Cutting Device for Propeller Driven Watercraft,” the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a system for cutting marine grasses, biomass and other plant life found in navigable waters. The invention further comprises an adjustable, protective blade to protect a propeller, drive shaft and a boat or other watercraft motor. The invention further comprises an expansive cutting device to mount upon a watercraft motor. The invention even further comprises a method for selecting a cutting profile near a propeller for navigating a watercraft through natural aquatic plant life or other impediments to operating a propeller in waters.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to propeller driven marine motors. The present invention even further relates to grass cutting surfaces for propeller blades. The present invention even further relates to solutions for navigating a marine propeller through waters that have grasses that could imperil the operation of the marine propeller, motor and thus the watercraft. The present invention even further relates to such cutting surfaces being adjustable to enable maximum cutting efficiency for variable environmental marine conditions.

2. Description of Related Art

When propeller driven watercraft are deployed across rivers, lakes, and oceans, they often must contend with a number of different grasses and other plant life that threaten to tangle up against itself, the propeller blade, and other watercraft structures. As a result, the operator of the watercraft is forced to turn off the motor and manually remove the plant matter from the propeller area. The related art discloses grass cutting devices attempting to solve similar problems with cutting plant life. For instance, see U.S. Pat. No. 9,296,454, and products known commercially as “The Shank,” “The Weed Chopper,” and “Shear Magic.” Such prior art solutions are of insufficient dimension, material and structure to provide qualities sought by users of marine craft that utilize propeller propulsion. There remains a need for a grass cutting solution that is easily and manually applied to the propeller shaft. There further remains a need for grass cutting device that is adjustable for variability in marine grass types and density. There remains a need for a solution has a cutting surface capable of cutting different types and concentrations of plant matter. There remains even further a need for a solution that helps, rather than harms, the tracking and steering of the watercraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects were met with the present invention. In a first embodiment, the present invention comprises a propeller protection device that is configured to secured upon a propeller motor housing and/or shaft assembly of watercraft proximal to propeller blades, the device comprising a base configured to affix to at least one of a motor housing and shaft assembly of a watercraft motor; a cutting implement, the cutting implement capable of detachably mating to the base, the cutting implement having a propeller blade portion proximal to propeller blades of the watercraft motor; the propeller blade portion having a cutting surface on at least a portion of a side of the cutting implement comprising a fixation assembly that may secure the cutting implement to the base so that the cutting surface may be set at a preferred distance from the propeller blades; the base further comprising a first base fixation opening; the cutting implement further comprising a first implement opening, whereas the fixation assembly may be disposed therethrough the first base opening and the first implement opening thereby securing the base and cutting implement together, the first implement opening having a span that the fixation element may travel, the span positioned generally between the cutting surface of the implement and the side opposite the cutting surface of the implement; the cutting implement having a second implement opening and the base comprising a second base opening; the propeller protection device further comprising a second fixation element, so that the second fixation element may connect the second implement opening and the second base opening, whereby the cutting implement may be disposed offset of the base; the second fixation opening further comprising an arcuate span extending towards the cutting surface on a first end, and towards a side opposite the cutting surface on a second end, so that the second end may be moved to be proximal to the propeller blades in a parabolic path; the propeller protection device further comprising at least one hose clamp, whereas the at least one hose clamp may be threaded through the at least one base opening and connected to the propeller motor housing and/or the shaft assembly the propeller protection device further comprising a clip, the clip having at least one base arm extending from the clip towards the base of the propeller protection device, and further having at least one shaft arm extending from the clip towards shaft assembly, whereas the at least one base arm of the clip may detachably affix to the base of the propeller protection device and the at least one shaft arm is configured to detachably affix to the shaft assembly; the propeller protection device in the base further comprising a shaft side, a motor housing side, and a propeller blade side, the shaft side and motor housing side and the propeller blade side forming a perimeter when the base as configured to affix to at least one of a motor housing and shaft assembly of a watercraft motor is installed; whereas the perimeter as mated to the cutting implement obstructs grasses and other aquatic plantlife from wrapping around the shaft assembly or the propeller blades, the propeller protection device, whereas the perimeter of the base comprises a generally rectangular shape; the propeller protection device, the base further comprising at the shaft side a lip for receiving the at least one base arm of the clip, the lip extending outwardly from the shaft side; the propeller protection system the base having a least one window, the cutting element having at least one window, whereby the at least one window of the base at least partially overlaps with the at least one window of the cutting element

In a second embodiment of the invention, a propeller protection system, the system may comprise a base configured to affix to at least one of a motor housing and shaft assembly of a watercraft motor; a cutting element capable of mating with the base, the cutting surface having an adjustable relationship to the base, the cutting surface being configured to adjustably move towards propeller blades of a watercraft motor, the cutting element further comprising a cutting edge located on a propeller-abutting portion of the cutting element and a trailing portion opposite that of the blade side of the cutting element; the propeller protection system further comprising at least one base affixation opening and at least one cutting surface opening so that a mating assembly may connect the base and cutting element; the propeller protection system, the cutting element comprising a span extending between the cutting edge and the trailing portion of the cutting element, the span comprising a mating channel for the mating assembly to travel for adjustment of the cutting element's proximity to the propeller blades and disposition upon the base, the propeller protection system, the span of the cutting element having an arcuate profile with a first end and a second end and a centerpoint between the first and second end, the first end relating to the cutting surface and the second end relating to the trailing portion, the first end and the second end being disposed closer to the motor housing body of the watercraft motor; the propeller protection system, the cutting implement having a second span and the base comprising a second base opening, the propeller protection device further comprising a second fixation element, so that the second fixation element may connect the second implement opening and the second base opening, whereby the cutting element may be disposed offset of the base; the propeller protection system, the base having a least one window, the cutting element having at least one window, whereby the at least one window of the base at least partially overlaps with the at least one window of the cutting element; the propeller protection system further comprising affixing tools comprising a hose clamps or a clip that detachably affixes to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of the base in an embodiment of the inventive device.

FIG. 2 depicts a first side view of the base in an embodiment of the inventive device.

FIG. 3 depicts a second side view of the base in an embodiment of the inventive device.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective profile of the inventive system, with the cutting implement affixed to the base mounted on the propeller shaft.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side profile of an embodiment of the inventive system, with the cutting implement affixed to the base mounted on the propeller shaft and propeller body.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side perspective profile of an embodiment of the inventive system, with the cutting implement affixed to the base mounted on the propeller shaft and propeller body.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective profile of an embodiment of the inventive system, with the cutting implement affixed to the base mounted on the propeller shaft and propeller body.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of a clip that may affix the propeller protection device to a shaft of a watercraft motor assembly.

FIG. 9 depicts a side view of the second embodiment of the base.

FIG. 10 depicts a side profile view of the second embodiment of the base.

FIG. 11 depicts a side perspective view of the second embodiment of the base.

FIG. 12 depicts a side view of the third embodiment of the base.

FIG. 13 depicts a side profile view of the third embodiment of the base.

FIG. 14 depicts a side perspective view of the third embodiment of the base.

FIG. 15 depicts a side view of the fourth embodiment of the base.

FIG. 16 depicts a side profile view of the fourth embodiment of the base.

FIG. 17 depicts a side perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the base.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side lower perspective view of a clip affixed to a base of the propeller protection device.

FIG. 19 illustrates an axial perspective view of the clip affixed to a base of the propeller protection device.

FIG. 20 illustrates a side perspective view of the clip affixed to a base along with the propeller protection device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device that resolves a number of shortcomings reflected in the prior art, resulting in a solution that user-friendly and environmentally superior. First, the invention addresses the needs of the prior art with a device that has multiple cutting and shear points to address different types and densities of plant matter, and further solves this challenge by presenting an adjustable cutting surface. Second, the present solves issues in the prior by preventing the plant matter from becoming entangled with other plant matter. Third, the present inventor even further resolves issues in the prior art by improving tracking and steering of the propelling motor by removing impediments to the propeller operating as intended.

Looking at the FIGS. 1-20, an embodiment of a plant matter cutting device is depicted as having a base securing upon a motor housing and shaft. The base may connect to the motor of a watercraft. The embodiment of the base shown in the FIGS. 1 and 8-17 may have a flat profile, having a shaft side, a motor body side, and a propeller blade side. Other embodiments of the base well within the scope of the invention may have additional sides. Still other embodiments not depicted may include different structural profiles, including those with curved surfaces, with additional volumes (those having 3 dimensions beyond rectangular), and other profiles that are capable of carrying out the purposes of the present invention.

The base of cutting implement may include one or more base openings extending between a first face and a second side. The base openings or window may be defined by interior portions of the base in the embodiment of the base, and are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8-17 as having generally rectangular or square profiles, though with rounded corners in some embodiments. In other embodiments of the base not shown, base openings may include curved portions such as circular profiles, linear portions such as n-gon profiles, or having both curved or and linear aspects such as hemisphere profiles. In other embodiments of the base not shown, the one or more base openings may be least partially open a side of the base such as the motor body side or a shaft side, or in embodiments of the base having curved exterior portions at the said curved exterior portion. Other irregular aspects of the base may be within the scope of the invention, as shown in an embodiment of the invention in FIG. 1 that shows at least one corner of the base with a cut-out from the overall shape of the base. Sides of the base further may form acute or obtuse angles with adjacent sides of the base in embodiments not shown in the illustrations, so that regular and irregular geometric configurations are within the scope of the invention. In an unexpected benefit of the invention, the bases shown as embodied in FIGS. 1, 8 and 20 have a shaft portion, motor housing portion, and cutting portions that form a perimeter extending between the propeller blades and the shaft of the motor assembly, which have exhibited the effect of obstructing plant life by spreading out and thus separating grasses and other plant matter so that they are either cut by the cutting implement or shielded from tangling with fellow grasses and plant matter. In other embodiments, the perimeter may resemble other geometric profiles.

The embodiment of the base as shown in FIGS. 4-7 may affix to the shaft side and the motor body side using screw retained hose clamps through the at least one or more base openings. Other means of affixation of the base to the motor shaft may be well within the scope of the present invention, including structures known in the arts to mate two similar bodies directly and indirectly. In another embodiment not illustrated, the base may mate to the shaft and motor body without use of openings or mating structures by way of welding, gluing or other binding. In still another embodiment of the invention, a clip such as one illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 18-20 may detachably affix to both the shaft and the base, according to embodiments of the invention. Clip may have a base portion and a shaft portion. As illustrated in FIG. 20, a base portion of the clip may comprise a bracketing element that affixes by friction fit to the shaft side of the base to engage with the first and second face of the base. Bracketing element of the base portion of the clip is shown as having a first and second arm extending towards the base. Similarly, the clip may attach at its shaft side of the clip with a shaft element or elements extending toward the shaft, shown in FIGS. 18-20 as being parabolic in profile.

Looking further at the illustrations of the inventive device, a base may support a cutting implement or cutting surface. Cutting implement may be positioned co-planar and adjacent to base of the device. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, cutting implement many include implement openings that may line up fully or partially, with base openings on the propeller side. Cutting implement may include a first adjustment opening or span and a second adjustment opening or span, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to be positioned further to the perimeter of the base than the base openings. According to the embodiment in the FIGS. 4-7 and 20, adjustment openings may screw-retained via a first and second affixation elements through an affixation opening of the base, and secured with lock washers. In other embodiments, bolts, pins, rods and other tools known in the industry to join one or more surfaces may be utilized within the scope of the invention. In still other embodiments, base and cutting implement may be mated together using a male-female pin relationship, gear cogs, or through other mating solutions understood in the arts.

A seen in FIGS. 4-7 and 20, adjustment openings may enable the first and second affixation elements to fix the cutting implement onto the base in a preferred orientation. The first affixation opening or span may resemble an arcuate opening as seen in FIGS. 4-7 and 20, enabling a more circumferential positioning cutting implement vis a vis the base element, so that a first end of the cutting implement may travel an arcuate path towards the propeller, enabling the cutting edge of the cutting implement to be positioned in a substantially parallel relationship with the propeller blades. Other topographical features, base configurations and affixation openings outside of the measurements shown in the illustrations may be within the scope of the invention, including regular patterns or matrices and those with irregular properties.

Looking further at the FIGS. 2-7 and 20, the cutting implement may have a cutting side or edge, the cutting side having an x number of teeth, according to different embodiments of the invention, preferably in the 3-500 range, and in another embodiment in the 10-20 range. According to other embodiments not depicted, cutting side may have a cutting surface deployed only partially along the cutting side of the cutting implement. Furthermore, the cutting surface may have cutting features other than teeth as depicted. Finer structures, such as a more serrated edge are well-within the scope of the invention, as are irregular cutting structures. Cutting surface may have other profiles than the linear one depicted in FIGS. 2-7, such as curved, angled, linear or combinations thereof.

In use, the user may deploy the cutting implement according to the marine conditions, the make of the watercraft motor assembly and environmental factors of the type of plant life found in the waters. Using an embodiment of the invention, the base may be secured generally flush to the shaft and motor housing using the affixing tools such as hose clamps or the affixing clip. The cutting implement may then be positioned according to the rotation of the propeller blade, so the blade does not impinge upon the cutting implement. The propeller blade may be bent towards the cutting element to discern the possible impingements during heavy use or other environment factors that may move the propeller blade from its normal rotation. The propeller blade at its most outwardly bent position may be used to move the cutting implement distally of the blade to a non-impinging position vis a vis the cutting edge of the cutting implement. In an embodiment of the invention, the second affixation element is tightened initially after clearing a second end of the cutting implement from the rotating propeller blade, then bending a tip of the propeller blade towards and pushing the first end of the cutting implement (the end correlating to the first cutting element) clear of any impingement from the tip of the propeller blade. In this configuration shown in FIG. 5, the cutting element is closer to being perpendicular to the propeller blade than to the propeller shaft. A method of positioning the propeller blade to a cutting surface may be within the scope of the present invention using the foregoing steps described.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments set forth above, many alternatives, modifications and other variations thereof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such alternatives, modifications and variations are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A propeller protection device that is configured to secured upon a propeller motor housing and/or shaft assembly of watercraft proximal to propeller blades, the device comprising: a base configured to affix to at least one of a motor housing and shaft assembly of a watercraft motor; a cutting implement, the cutting implement capable of detachably mating to the base, the cutting implement having a propeller blade portion proximal to propeller blades of the watercraft motor; the propeller blade portion having a cutting surface on at least a portion of a side of the cutting implement.
 2. The propeller protection device in claim 1, the cutting implement comprising a fixation assembly that may secure the cutting implement to the base so that the cutting surface may be set at a preferred distance from the propeller blades.
 3. The propeller protection device in claim 2, the base further comprising a first base fixation opening, the cutting implement further comprising a first implement opening, whereas the fixation assembly may be disposed therethrough the first base opening and the first implement opening thereby securing the base and cutting implement together.
 4. The propeller protection device in claim 3, the first implement opening having a span that the fixation element may travel, the span positioned generally between the cutting surface of the implement and the side opposite the cutting surface of the implement.
 5. The propeller protection device in claim 4, the cutting implement having a second implement opening and the base comprising a second base opening, the propeller protection device further comprising a second fixation element, so that the second fixation element may connect the second implement opening and the second base opening, whereby the cutting implement may be disposed offset of the base.
 6. The second fixation opening of claim 5 further comprising an arcuate span extending towards the cutting surface on a first end, and towards a side opposite the cutting surface on a second end, so that the second end may be moved to be proximal to the propeller blades in a parabolic path.
 7. The propeller protection device in claim 2 further comprising at least one hose clamp, whereas the at least one hose clamp may be threaded through the at least one base opening and connected to the propeller motor housing and/or the shaft assembly.
 8. The propeller protection device in claim 2 further comprising a clip, the clip having at least one base arm extending from the clip towards the base of the propeller protection device, and further having at least one shaft arm extending from the clip towards shaft assembly, whereas the at least one base arm of the clip may detachably affix to the base of the propeller protection device and the at least one shaft arm is configured to detachably affix to the shaft assembly.
 9. The propeller protection device in claim 2, the base further comprising a shaft side, a motor housing side, and a propeller blade side, the shaft side and motor housing side and the propeller blade side forming a perimeter when the base as configured to affix to at least one of a motor housing and shaft assembly of a watercraft motor is installed; whereas the perimeter as mated to the cutting implement obstructs grasses and other aquatic plantlife from wrapping around the shaft assembly or the propeller blades.
 10. The propeller protection device in claim 8, whereas the perimeter of the base comprises a generally rectangular shape.
 11. The propeller protection device in claim 8, the base further comprises at the shaft side a lip for receiving the at least one base arm of the clip, the lip extending outwardly from the shaft side.
 12. A propeller protection system, the system comprising: a base configured to affix to at least one of a motor housing and shaft assembly of a watercraft motor; a cutting element capable of mating with the base, the cutting surface having an adjustable relationship to the base, the cutting surface being configured to adjustably move towards propeller blades of a watercraft motor, the cutting element further comprising a cutting edge located on a propeller-abutting portion of the cutting element and a trailing portion opposite that of the blade side of the cutting element.
 13. The propeller protection system in claim 12 further comprising at least one base affixation opening and at least one cutting surface opening so that a mating assembly may connect the base and cutting element.
 14. The propeller protection system in claim 13, the cutting element comprising a span extending between the cutting edge and the trailing portion of the cutting element, the span comprising a mating channel for the mating assembly to travel for adjustment of the cutting element's proximity to the propeller blades and disposition upon the base.
 15. The propeller protection system in claim 14, the span of the cutting element having an arcuate profile with a first end and a second end and a centerpoint between the first and second end, the first end relating to the cutting surface and the second end relating to the trailing portion, the first end and the second end being disposed closer to the motor housing body of the watercraft motor.
 16. The propeller protection system in claim 15, the cutting implement having a second span and the base comprising a second base opening, the propeller protection device further comprising a second fixation element, so that the second fixation element may connect the second implement opening and the second base opening, whereby the cutting element may be disposed offset of the base.
 17. The propeller protection system in claim 16, the base having a least one window, the cutting element having at least one window, whereby the at least one window of the base at least partially overlaps with the at least one window of the cutting element.
 18. The propeller protection system in claim 16 further comprising affixing tools comprising a hose clamps or a clip that detachably affixes to the base.
 19. The propeller protection system in claim 1, the base having a least one window, the cutting element having at least one window, whereby the at least one window of the base at least partially overlaps with the at least one window of the cutting element. 